Steinbeck, John

Tortilla Flat. New York: Covici-Friede, [1935]

8vo. Inscribed by Steinbeck on the front ℱfree endpaper, half-title, illustrations by Ruth Garnett; apparent paper flaw to margin of p. 32. Original tan cloth, top edge stained blue. Pictorial dust jacket designed by Garnett, glassine wrapper; a few stray spots to spine panel, very minor toning to upper margins of jacket.

First edition, cloth issue (approximately 500 copies were also issued in wrappers). Presentation copy, inscribed by the author: “For Harold James ℱBaily | With hearty regards | John Steinbeck.”

It was Tortilla Flat, Steinbeck’s fourth novel, that established his reputation. Within a decade the story of Danny and his Mexican-American paisanos, set in Mo🐻nterey, sold over a million copies and was translated into almost every Europea൲n language.

A well-preserved copy.

REFERENCE:

Goldstone and Payne A4b

PROVENANCE:

Harold James Baily (presentation inscription)